NEW DELHI: With the HC refusing relief to S M Krishna on alleged illegal mining during his Chief Ministership, BJP today demanded his head, and asked the Congress-led government to sack him. Former CM B S Yeddyurappa was also shown the door after the Lokayukta indicted the state.
“Krishna holds the sensitive portfolio of external affairs. After the order of the
Karnataka High Court, he should resign purely on moral grounds as his case will be investigated by the Lokayukta police,” said BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad. He also wondered whether Congress will follow the example of BJP when it had asked Yeddyurappa to step down after the Lokayukta report indicted his government. “They campaigned against him for two years. As soon as the report came, we asked him to resign, which he did,” Prasad said.
The Congress, however, down played the matter.
“This is a normal legal process. I am sure Krishna and his lawyer will deal with the matter in accordance with the law. There is no final verdict and there is going to be further appeal,” said party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Decision was collective, says smk counsel
Bangalore: Arguing against the Lokayukta probe into External Affairs Minnister S M Krishna’s role in de-reserving forest land, Uday Lalit, counsel for Krishna had argued that the Cabinet decision was a collective one taken by 34 ministers and an individual cannot be held responsible for it. Lalit also had submitted that there was a Minister in charge of Forest Department and also for Mines and Geology Department during Krishna government, which was not the case with successive governments.